Fluid-actuated jack for automotive vehicles



June 22, 1954 J. TABER 2,681,790

FLUID-ACTUATED JACK FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Filed March 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l i I Julius L. Taber INVENTOR.

BY wmi'n AME-M June 22, 1954 J. L. TABER 2,681,790

FLUID-ACTUATED JACK FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Filed March 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 &

r E k gg v i.

8% T g A Julius L, Taber a INVENTOR.

June 22, 1954 .1. L. TABER 2,681,790

FLUID-ACTUATED JACK FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 5, 1951 Fig 4 I40 Fig 6 bb Julius L. Taber A52 759 JNVENTOR.

Patented June 22, 1954 FLUID-ACTUATED' JACK FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Julius L. Taber, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of twenty per cent to Meryle J. Taber and twenty per cent to William N. Taber, both of Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 5, 1951, Serial No. 213,874

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in automobile jacks, and more particularly to an automobile jack arrangement which is adapted to be fixedly mounted on a vehicle as a permanent fixture thereof and wherein the jacks are associated with the forward and rear axles of the vehicle and actuated by the internal combustion of the vehicle to raise and lower the vehicle or forward and rear portions thereof.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automotive vehicle with fluid-actuated jacks on its forward and rear axles with lever and linkage means interconnected therewith whereby the jacks can be selectively pivoted from a retracted position to a ground-engageable position, whereupon actuation of the fluid-actuated jacks will raise or lower the vehicle or portions thereof Another object of the present invention resides in the manner in which the jacks are actuated, that being by pressure supplied from a pump actuated by the internal combustion engine of the vehicle, conduit means interconnecting the pump means with the fluid-actuated jacks for supplying the pressure thereto.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of valves in the conduit means whereby the fluid-actuated jacks on the front and rear axles of the vehicle can be selectively actuated or simultaneously actuated, depending upon whether the entire vehicle or just an end portion thereof is to be raised.

A further object of the present invention resides in the novel construction of the pump means which is associated with the compression head of an internal combustion engine, whereby,

while the engine is running, the piston of the pump means will be reciprocated simultaneously with the piston of the internal combustion engine, thereby to provide pressure to conduit means leading from the pump means.

A further object of the present invention resides in the novel linkage and lever arrangement whereby the various elements of the combination of the invention are simultaneously actuated to pivot the fluid-actuated jacks to their groundengageable positions, initiate pump action in the pump means, open the valve in the base of the fluid-actuated jacks and to reverse the various operating steps.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow. The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, of the structural combination of the present invention shown mounted on an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine and wherein the fluid actuated jacks are in their retracted positions;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but wherein the fluid-actuated jacks are in their extended positions for raising the vehicle with respect to a supporting surface;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the chassis of the motor vehicle shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view through the base of the fluid actuated jack of Figure 4 and showing the check valve mounted therein;

Figure '7 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 7-1 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 8-8 of Figure 1; and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral l0 designates generally the conventional chassis of an automotive vehicle comprised of frame elements I2 and I4,

forward and rear axle housings l6 and [8, wheels 20, and an internal combustion engine 22. The fluid-actuated jack apparatus which is to be fixedly secured to the chassis ll] of a conventional automotive vehicle is designated generally by the numeral II and is comprised of a pump means 24, valve means 26, lever and linkage arrangement 2B, fluid-actuated jack means 30 and conduit means 32.

The pump means 24 is shown in assembled relation with the internal combustion engine 22 in Figures 1 through 3 and the details of the pump means are shown in the sectional view of Figure 7. The pump means 24 is comprised of a substantially cylindrical and elongated housing 34 which is of a diameter approximating that of a spark plug, the ends of the housing 34 being externally threaded at 36 and 38. The first end 40 of the housing 34 has a shoulder 42 which is adapted to abut the compression head 44 with the threaded portion 36 threadably engaged in a tapped hole in the compression head 44, the tapped hole communicating with a compression chamber of the head. A sealing element 46 is interposed between the shoulder 42 and the cornpression head 44 in order that compression will not be lost through the joint between the housing 34 and the head 44. The housing 34 is formed with a first bore 48 and a second bore 5%] with a piston 52 slidably mounted in the second bore 50 and adapted to abut the shoulder 54 formed between the two bores 48 and 50 in response to the urgings of the compression spring 5d. The piston 52 has a pair of piston and sealing rings 58 engaged thereon for sealing engagement with the walls of a bore 50. The cylindrical housing 34 is also formed with a plurality of apertures 60 which constitute inlets whereby fresh air can be admitted into the bore 50 on the right-hand side of the piston 52.

The end 62 of the housing 34 has a cap 54 threadably engaged on the threaded portion 38 and has a pair of conduit sections 56 .and 53 extending therefrom and terminating in connectors IE and I2 for connection to the conduit means 32, as will be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

Rotatably mounted within the first bore 43 of the housing 34 is a disk valve I4 which is fixedly secured to a pin 16 rotatably journaled in the walls of the housing 34 whereby the disk valve I4 can be rotated in response to rotation of the linkage element III as will be more fully described hereinafter.

With the engine 22 idling, and the valve 14 in open position, it will be seen that during the compression stroke of the piston of the internal combustion engine, the piston 52 of the pump means 24 will be moved to compress the spring 56, at the same time closing the apertures 54. Thus, fluid pressure will be delivered to the outlets 65 and 58. Upon suction stroke of the piston of the engine, the piston 52 will move to the left, thereby uncovering the .aperture 64 and admitting fresh air to the bore 56 for the next stroke. In this manner, pump means 24 is simultaneously actuated upon operation of the internal combuston engine 22 and will provide fluid pressure to the conduit means 32 as desired.

The fluid-actuated jack means 30 1s comprised of forward and rear jacks '80 and 82, as seen best in Figures 1 through 3. The forward jack 86 has an elongated base bar 84 secured thereto for the forward jack 85, having the elongated base bar 92 secured to its bottom and having a U- shaped attaching bracket 94 secured to its upper end for interconnection with the ears 96 fixedly secured to the axle housing I8 by means of the pins 98.

The detailed structure of the fluid-actuated jack Bil or 82 is shown best in Figures 4 through 6. The U-shaped attaching bracket 86, 94 in the rear fluid-actuated jack, is fixedly secured to the plunger I00 whereby the axle housing It will be upwardly moved with the plunger IQII upon actuation of the fluid-actuated jack B4. The jack BI! is comprised of a cylindrical housing I02 which has the base bar 84 fixedly secured to the bottom end thereof and has its upper open end I54 provided with a removable closure I06 which. is threadably engaged therein. The closure I06 has an opening I08 therein whereby free communication between the interior of the housing I02 and the exterior of the housing can be maintained, except for that portion of the housing III2 which is below the piston H0. The housing is provided with an aperture at III! whereby when the piston reaches its uppermost position, further pressure will be exhausted thru the aperture IN. The piston III! is of cupshaped form and is removably secured to the plunger IIIII by means of the screw II2. A tension coil spring H4 is engaged in a recess H4 in the base of the housing I42 and has its upper end engaged in the recess of the cup-shaped piston lid for normally urging the plunger IIII! inwardly of the housing I02, the ends of the spring I I4 being restrained by the screw H2 and the screw'll5 removably carried by the base of the housing I82, the screws H2 and H5 carrying washers H3 and I II, respectively, which are engaged over end loops of the spring I I4. Thus, the piston III! and plunger we may be inwardly or outwardly urged, since there will be free communication between the upper end of the housing I02 and the atmosphere through the opening I98 in the closure I06.

Adjacent one side of the base of the housing IE2 is an extension H8 formed with a first bore I28 and a radially extending bore I22 in communication'with the first bore I20. A rotary valve plug I24 is rotatably disposed in the first bore I and has an extension portion I26 'extending outwardly of the body portion H8, whereby the rotary plug valve J24 can be rotated in response to pivoting movement of the linkage element I28 which is fixedly secured to the extension I and retained thereon by means of the nut I35. The rotary plug valve I24 has a longitudinal bore I32 for communication with the interior of the housing I32 and has a radial bore I34 in open communication with the bore I32 adapted to be selectively in communication with the bore I22 upon rotation of the plug valve I24 in response to pivoting of the linkage element I28. It will therefore be seen that when the rotary plug valve I24 is pivoted in response to actuation by the linkage means 28, the bore I22 being in open communication with the atmosphere, any pressure trapped within the housing 402 will be exhausted, thereby allowing the vehicle to be lowered.

Looking now at Figure 6, the inlet for the housing I62 will be seen to comprise a passage I38 opening into the base of the bore of the housing I02 and communicated with the laterally extending bore I38. A connector I40 is threadably engaged within the bore I38 for interconnecting the supply conduit I42 with the bore I38. A valve seat element I44 is threadably engaged within the threaded portion MI and has a tapered seat I46 on one face with spider elements I48 supporting the bearing element I54 at the center of the seat I44. A pin I52 is engaged in the bearing I54 for support thereby and has its other end provided with a spring retainer I54 whereby the coil spring I56 can be engaged against the back side of the valve I58 for normally urging the same in engagement with 5. having flange portions I66 and I68 secured to the instrument panel I10 of the vehicle by means of the screws I12, an indicatorpanel I14 being retained by the screws I12 on the panel I10 for indicating open and closed positions.

The valve housing I64 is formed with a pair of cylindrical recessed portions I16 and I18, each being formed with an opening I80 or I8I in its bottom wall and formed with radial openings I82 and I83 in the side walls of .the cylindrical portions. Inlet conduit sections I84 and I86 are interconnected in the openings I80 and I8I for supplying fluid pressure to the housing portions I18 and I18. Rotatable valve plugs I88 and I90 are rotatably disposed within the recessed portions I16 and I18 of the housing I64 and have extension portions I92 and I94 extending through the instrument panel I10 and provided with knobs I96 for rotating the valves I88 and I90. Each of the cylindrical housing portions I16 and I18 is provided with a sealing disk I98 for positioning between the housing I64 and one face of each of the valve plugs I88 and I90.

The valve plugs I88 and I90 are formed with bell-shaped bores 200 and 202 whereby communication between the openings I80 and I82, and I8I and I83 can be selectively effected upon rotation of the knobs I96. Each of the outlet openings I82 and I83 of the valves I80 and I62 has an outlet conduit section 204 connected thereto for delivery of the fluid pressure to the fluid actuated jacks 80 and 82.

The valve plugs I88 and I90 are formed with arcuate recesses 206 and 208 and a screw 2I0 is engaged through the wall of the housing I64 for engagement within the arcuate recesses 206 and 208 for limiting the rotating movement of the valve plugs I88 and I90.

As seen best in Figures 1 through 3, the conduit means I I includes a pair of inlet conduit sections I84 and I86 which interconnect the outlet sections 66 and 68 of the pump means 24, as shown in Figure 7, with the valves I60 and I62 respectively. Each of the valves I60 and I62 has an outlet conduit section 204 which terminates adjacent the under side of the vehicle. Resilient conduit sections 205 and 201 are connected to the ends of the outlet conduit sections 204 and terminate in the portions I42 which are connected to the bases of the fluid actuated jacks 80 and 82. The resilient conduit sections 205 and 201 are formed with coil springs thereon, indicated by the numeral 209, whereby, when the jacks are in their retracted positions, the resilient conduit sections 205 and 201 will be coiled as shown in Figure 1.

The lever and linkage arrangement 28 is comprised of a manual lever 2I0 which is pivotally supported on the pin 2I2 rotatably carried by the frame element I2 and the bracket 2I4. The bracket 2! 4 terminates at its inner end in an arcuated ratchet element 2I6 which can be conventionally employed for latching the lever 2 I in preselected positions. The bracket 2I4 has a pair of struts 2I8 and 220 which are secured to the frame element I2 for supporting the ratchet element 2I6 in spaced parallel relation thereto.

A rod 220 is rotatably supported in spaced parallel relation to the pin 2 I 2 by means of the frame element 222 and the frame element I2. The rod 220 has a first lever 224, second lever 226, third lever 228 and fourth lever 230 fixedly secured thereto and extending laterally therefrom in various angular relations to each other. The lever 228 is interconnected with the lever 2| 0 by means ofthe linkage element 232. The levers 224 and 226 are respectively interconnected with the fluid actuated jacks and 82 by means of the linkages 234 and 236 which are respectively connected to the linkage elements I28 and I28 connected to the rotary plug valves of the jacks.

An L-shaped lever 23B is pivotally mounted on any convenient portion of the engine 22 and is interconnected with the lever 238 by means of the linkage 240, the other end of the lever 238 being interconnected by means of the linkage 242 to the lever 18 of the disk valve 14 in the pump means 24.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and operation of the fluid actuated jack of the present invention will be readily understood by one skilled in the art. With the fluid actuated jacks 80 and 82 in their retracted positions as shown in Figure 1, the means of the present invention may be employed for raising either the forward or rear ends of the vehicle, or both ends of the vehicle as desired by pivotingrthe actuating lever 2I0 to the position shown in Figure 2. The pivoting of the various levers and their linkage means will efiect pivoting of the jacks 80 and 82 to their ground-engageable positions. At the same time, the valve 14 in the pump means 24 will be rotated to its open position, thereby actuating the piston 52 for supplying fluid pressure to the conduit means. Assuming both of the valves I60 and I62 to be in open position, fluid pressure will be admitted past the check valve I58 and the plungers of each of the jacks will be moved outwardly for raising the vehicle with respect to a supporting surface. Of course, the linkage elements 234 and 236 will have rotated the rotary valves I24 in the bases of the jacks 80 and 82 to their closed position, whereby the fluid supplied to the jacks will be trapped therein. Should it be desired that one of the jacks be actuated, a preselected one of the valves I60 or I62 is opened whereby pressure is supplied to the preselected jack. With one of the valves closed, fluid pressure will be provided for a preselected one of the jacks for raising the portion of the vehicle to which the jack is attached.

When it is desired to lower the vehicle, the actuating lever 2I0 is given a slight jerking motion whereby the levers I28 attached to the valves I24 will be given a slight movement to thereby crack an opening between the bores I32. and I22, whereby communication between the interior of the housing I02 and the atmosphere can be accomplished for exhausting the fluid pressure therein and thereby permitting the piston I I0 to initially move downwardly into the housing. As soon as the pressure in the housing I02 has been returned to that of the atmosphere and the hous ing I 02 moved upwardly relative to the piston by the spring I I4, the lever 2I0' is pivoted toward its extreme opposite position, whereby the jacks will be in their retracted positions.

If desired, the housings I02 of the jacks 80 and 82 can be supplied with conventional bleeder valves whereby, when the plungers I00 reach their extreme positions, the fluid pressure within the housings I 02 will be limited and the engine 22 may be maintained in running position.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that a device has been provided which will accomplish all of the objects hereinafter set forth.

Having described my invention, what is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A jack for vehicles having internal combustion engines comprising pump means mounted on the head of the internal combustion engine, fluid actuated jacks pivotally carried by the front and rear axles of the vehicle, conduit means interconnecting said pump means with said fluid actuated jacks for supplying fluid pressure to said jacks, valve means interposed in said conduit means for controlling the flow therethrough for selectively supplying and cutting off fluid pressure to said fluid actuated jacks, means interconnected with said'forward and rear jacks for pivoting the same from their retracted position to ground-engageable positions, said last-named means including a lever and linkage arrangement and a valve on each of said jacks interconnected to said lever and linkage arrangement and actuated thereby simultaneously with pivoting movement of said jacks, said valve on each of said jacks controlling the fiow of fluid into said jacks and being in open condition when the jacks are in their lowered positions and being closed when said jacks are in their retracted positions.

2. A jack for vehicles having internal combustion engines comprising pump means mounted on the head of the internal combustion engine, fluid actuated jacks pivotally carried by the front and rear axles of the vehicle, conduit means interconnecting said pump means with said fluid actuated jacks for supplying fluid pressure to said jacks, and valve means interposed in said conduit means for controlling the flow therethrough for selectively supplying and cutting off fluid pressure to said fluid actuated jacks, and means interconnected with said pump means and said forward and rear jacks for simultaneously rendering the pump operative and pivoting the jacks from their retracted positions to their ground-engaging positions whereby fluid pressure from said pump means can actuate said jacks for raising and lowering the vehicle, said last-named means including a lever and linkage arrangement, a valve on said pump means and a valve on each of said jacks interconnected to said lever and linkage arrangement and actuated thereby, said valve on said pump means rendering said pump means inoperative when in closed position, and said valve on each of said jacks controlling the flow of fluid into said jacks and being in open condition when the jacks are in their lowered positions and being closed when said jacks are in their retracted positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 977,351 Waterhouse Nov. 29, 1910 2,038,485 Geeck Apr. 21, 1936 2,045,524 Fehrmann June 23, 1936 2,353,855 Schwarz July 18, 1944 

